Air Force soldier killed, another hurt in Batangas ambush

An Air Force soldier was killed while another was injured in an ambush by suspected New People’s Army (NPA) members in Nasugbu, Batangas, police reported Sunday.

Airman Alkaber Alih, member of the PAF’s 730th Combat Group and based in Brgy. Bilaran, succumbed to bullet wounds to the neck, according to a report from the Batangas Provincial Police.

Airman Elmir Orias, a member of the same unit, suffered a bullet wound to the hip and was taken to the Apacible Memorial District Hospital, but was transferred to the Madonna General Hospital in Balayan for further treatment, the report said.

The airmen were traveling back to their patrol patrol base after conducting a “barangay visitation,” when they were fired upon by an undetermined number of armed men believed to be NPA members, the report said.

Local police are now coordinating with the PAF 730th Combat Group to determine the attackers’ identities. (John Roson)